The Walking Dead Season Four first half review
The Walking Dead started out as a very strong show, a series dedicated to a zombie apocalypse was something that I had never seen before, and being sort of sick of the genre I was amazed to see that it was filled with interesting characters and some strong drama. The second season quickly sapped what was great about the first season and left many fans on edge, the third was a great return to form but sizzled out to a very anti climactic and disappointing ending. To say that I was on edge about this new season is an understatement, I was terrified, the trailer made the season seem dull and very uninteresting and I was about to hammer the final nail in another series coffin. Now that we've reached the mid season finale we have until February to reflect on what terrible things have happened to Rick and co. I'll start by saying that this has been the best season since season 1, everything I could have possibly wanted in the Walking Dead has returned. This season has been a tremendous return to form for the AMC Zombie/Drama, shall we call it a Zombra? Suffice it to say I am very pleased with how this season is turning out and I am getting the same restlessness I had while watching Breaking Bad.
Now before I continue I must say
WARNING THERE BE SPOILERS
If you haven't watched the season or the mid season finale I suggest doing so then come back.
The season started three months after the attack on Woodbury, Rick had co had taken in the rest of the residents that were not mowed down by the Governor and are now all living in the prison. A sort of strange democratic council has been put in place which Rick has been excluded from (do to his mental break down after the death of Lori) the council consists of Daryl, Machone, Hershel, Carol, Glenn, and newcomer Sasha. Machone is constantly on the look out for the escaped Governor and Carol has personally decided to take on some extracurricular activities with the children. Of course nothing can turn out fine in this show, because it turns out that the survivors have something else to fear other than Walkers, and this is a virus. After one person gets sick the entire prison is quickly thrown into disarray and to make matters worse there seems to be a psychopathic saboteur amongst the group who has yet to be revealed.
The addition to the virus was such a smart choice, it added more stakes to the series. Without a way to gain proper medical attention in this post-apocalyptic world the prison group slowly starts to die off. The constant lingering fear of this invisible enemy give the show the much needed dread that has been missing from the past two season. It's been along time since you never knew what character could die, every episode you could feel that someone was going to die, but of course the series keeps pulling fast ones on us and you find yourself clutching your fists as the episodes go on.
Now another thing that's been added back in this show (and I question why it left) is that the Zombies are scary again! The Walkers seemed to have become set pieces in the last two season, this time they are given the light they deserved, they are an actual threat again. The prison is under constant assault from Walkers that the group has to fend off, and those who get sick are now turning into Walkers and risk killing everyone from inside the prison. Some of the Walker designs have been gruesome, last nights mud Zombie was very eerie and added that fear factor that all the Walkers had been without.
The season also had some very controversial moments that involved Carol, who surprisingly was given a plot for once. Her character has had such a big arc that shes become one of my favorites, in season one she was a very weak person who
was under the constant fear of her abusive husband, now she's taking charge teaching kids how to kill
walkers and has really come out of her shell. this is a very cold world they live in and killing the two infected group members would be almost a mercy. However with the system they had in place Carol went completely over everyones heads without counseling anyone on the matter. So Rick decided to let her go in order to save her from Tyrese who had already physically demonstrated that he would kill the person who burned his two friends.
I think this was such a good thing for the show because for once it actually divided the fan base, you had people who were on Carol's sides or people like myself who were on Ricks. The point of having a community fanbase it to have them discuss and debate what happens in the episode and the writers really gave fans something to talk about. Carol will be missed but we have yet to see if she will return this season or not, perhaps she'll be in the spin off show AMC is currently developing.
Another very interesting addition is this mysterious enemy that is amongst the group, I have no idea who it is but after what's happened in the last episode it looks like the crazed killer is still out there somewhere, I have a feeling AMC is going to throw a curve ball at us and we're not going to like the results come season finale (that is if they don't drag this out)
Rick has also had a very interesting arc this season, Andrew Lincoln is incredible in this show and it's almost criminal that he hasn't won an Emmy or golden globe for his performance. After last nights soul shattering performance he deserves some recognition, Rick Grimes is one of the most interesting and coolesters on TV right now. Killing him off would be suicide I can't see the show continuing with out him or Daryl for that matter. Everyone had something to do so far, even Hershel was given an awesome arc which made his demise all the more heartbreaking. Characters like Carl are even bearable now and I am very glad they haven't killed him off, the father son dynamic that has been continuing in this season is very strong and I am very intrigued to see Carl taking care of his father now.
One of the things that I hated about the third season was the lack of the a battle that was built up all and the Governor surviving. The character seemed like a one shot deal to me and his escape made me roll my eyes. However David Morrisey's return as the Oreo eye patch Governor has been one hell of a ride. The best part of this first half has been the three episode arc that led to the climatic end of this first half.
The episodes all focused on what the heck the Gov's been doing for the past three months leading up to his surprising yet expected return. I was finally sold on the Governor on Sunday who the Prison and continued his crazed war against Rick. Whatever sob story the Governor gave we all knew what his main goal was, the complete destruction of Rick and the prison group. I got everything that should have happened at the end of season three last night, the mid season finale was such a stressful episode and I can't stop thinking about it.
Of course there were some bad things in the season that almost ruined some of the episodes for me. The new children characters who were given a very ridiculous side story. It wasn't that I am opposed to seeing the side of the prison that the kids live on it's just the acting was atrocious. They were the dumbest characters in the prison group and I'm surprised they haven't been killed yet (guess we can thank Carol for that). Some episodes dragged with unnecessary plot's like the two survivors Carol and Rick discovered and the stupid new alcoholic character. Then there's the stupidity caused by some of the cast, I know that we need people to die in this show but most of the problems confronted by the group could have easily been avoided if certain individuals weren't so carelessly stupid. Even last night the little girl who died, her death could have easily been avoided if her mother wasn't so preoccupied sitting 30 feet away from her daughter.
All that is very tiny things to worry about because this season has been amazing. Season Four has been a great return to form and The Walking Dead has regained the suspense and excitement that has vanished in the past two seasons. I can't wait to see where the show will take us next
So far I give the Fourth Season of the Walking Dead a
8/10
I am so happy that one of my favorite shows is back and better than ever.
Now before I continue I must say
WARNING THERE BE SPOILERS
If you haven't watched the season or the mid season finale I suggest doing so then come back.
The season started three months after the attack on Woodbury, Rick had co had taken in the rest of the residents that were not mowed down by the Governor and are now all living in the prison. A sort of strange democratic council has been put in place which Rick has been excluded from (do to his mental break down after the death of Lori) the council consists of Daryl, Machone, Hershel, Carol, Glenn, and newcomer Sasha. Machone is constantly on the look out for the escaped Governor and Carol has personally decided to take on some extracurricular activities with the children. Of course nothing can turn out fine in this show, because it turns out that the survivors have something else to fear other than Walkers, and this is a virus. After one person gets sick the entire prison is quickly thrown into disarray and to make matters worse there seems to be a psychopathic saboteur amongst the group who has yet to be revealed.
The addition to the virus was such a smart choice, it added more stakes to the series. Without a way to gain proper medical attention in this post-apocalyptic world the prison group slowly starts to die off. The constant lingering fear of this invisible enemy give the show the much needed dread that has been missing from the past two season. It's been along time since you never knew what character could die, every episode you could feel that someone was going to die, but of course the series keeps pulling fast ones on us and you find yourself clutching your fists as the episodes go on.
Now another thing that's been added back in this show (and I question why it left) is that the Zombies are scary again! The Walkers seemed to have become set pieces in the last two season, this time they are given the light they deserved, they are an actual threat again. The prison is under constant assault from Walkers that the group has to fend off, and those who get sick are now turning into Walkers and risk killing everyone from inside the prison. Some of the Walker designs have been gruesome, last nights mud Zombie was very eerie and added that fear factor that all the Walkers had been without.
The season also had some very controversial moments that involved Carol, who surprisingly was given a plot for once. Her character has had such a big arc that shes become one of my favorites, in season one she was a very weak person who
was under the constant fear of her abusive husband, now she's taking charge teaching kids how to kill
I think this was such a good thing for the show because for once it actually divided the fan base, you had people who were on Carol's sides or people like myself who were on Ricks. The point of having a community fanbase it to have them discuss and debate what happens in the episode and the writers really gave fans something to talk about. Carol will be missed but we have yet to see if she will return this season or not, perhaps she'll be in the spin off show AMC is currently developing.
Another very interesting addition is this mysterious enemy that is amongst the group, I have no idea who it is but after what's happened in the last episode it looks like the crazed killer is still out there somewhere, I have a feeling AMC is going to throw a curve ball at us and we're not going to like the results come season finale (that is if they don't drag this out)
Rick has also had a very interesting arc this season, Andrew Lincoln is incredible in this show and it's almost criminal that he hasn't won an Emmy or golden globe for his performance. After last nights soul shattering performance he deserves some recognition, Rick Grimes is one of the most interesting and coolesters on TV right now. Killing him off would be suicide I can't see the show continuing with out him or Daryl for that matter. Everyone had something to do so far, even Hershel was given an awesome arc which made his demise all the more heartbreaking. Characters like Carl are even bearable now and I am very glad they haven't killed him off, the father son dynamic that has been continuing in this season is very strong and I am very intrigued to see Carl taking care of his father now.
One of the things that I hated about the third season was the lack of the a battle that was built up all and the Governor surviving. The character seemed like a one shot deal to me and his escape made me roll my eyes. However David Morrisey's return as the Oreo eye patch Governor has been one hell of a ride. The best part of this first half has been the three episode arc that led to the climatic end of this first half.
The episodes all focused on what the heck the Gov's been doing for the past three months leading up to his surprising yet expected return. I was finally sold on the Governor on Sunday who the Prison and continued his crazed war against Rick. Whatever sob story the Governor gave we all knew what his main goal was, the complete destruction of Rick and the prison group. I got everything that should have happened at the end of season three last night, the mid season finale was such a stressful episode and I can't stop thinking about it.
Of course there were some bad things in the season that almost ruined some of the episodes for me. The new children characters who were given a very ridiculous side story. It wasn't that I am opposed to seeing the side of the prison that the kids live on it's just the acting was atrocious. They were the dumbest characters in the prison group and I'm surprised they haven't been killed yet (guess we can thank Carol for that). Some episodes dragged with unnecessary plot's like the two survivors Carol and Rick discovered and the stupid new alcoholic character. Then there's the stupidity caused by some of the cast, I know that we need people to die in this show but most of the problems confronted by the group could have easily been avoided if certain individuals weren't so carelessly stupid. Even last night the little girl who died, her death could have easily been avoided if her mother wasn't so preoccupied sitting 30 feet away from her daughter.
All that is very tiny things to worry about because this season has been amazing. Season Four has been a great return to form and The Walking Dead has regained the suspense and excitement that has vanished in the past two seasons. I can't wait to see where the show will take us next
So far I give the Fourth Season of the Walking Dead a
8/10
I am so happy that one of my favorite shows is back and better than ever.
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